The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-02-10
THAT TREASURY SURPLUS.
SIN Time Of Peace Prepare for War;


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I not only
fully agree with your correspondent in arecent
issue of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE as to what
is due to the veterans of the late war; especially
the disabled ones, and which should be paid
out Of that bugbear called the Treasury sur
Plus, but / also would call the attention of all
comrades to what is due the present generation
for their protection against what in our day we
found the most fruitful sources Of wastefulness
in life and property-tbe lack of proper prepara-
ton for the sudden exigencies of war. 1t will
be remembered in what condition we were
upon the outbreak of hostilites both as regards
the army, navy and Treasury, and to what
humiliations we were forced to submit from
other powers till we had built, armed manned
and trained navy capable of saying Stand
Off and mind your own business to each and
every one of them; and those of us who were
sent to Europe after the rebellion succumbed will
remember well with what looks and exclama-
tions of wonder foreign officials stuck their
heads into the muzzles Of our big guns and
withdrew them-every expression speaking as
plainly as if they had said in Yankee parance
'That's some pumpkins; now isn't it? " and
how they scraped the backing from the out
side and examined the inside of the bore to see
if they were not "Quakers," and were not
even then satisfied till they had seen them
fired from the starboard, loaded while on the
pivot and fired from the pOrt-side in the re-
uulfeu 30 SfGOuu5. 4NOE ClU We IOF4tb bNdC III
at least two instances were we of the Ticon-
deroga forced to show our teeth to the Turks
and the Egyptians in defense of the rights of
our COnsuls Col. Maggi and Gen. Di Cesnoli,
who served us faithfully during the war and
then represented Us at Crete and Cyprus; in the
one case coming into sud- with the crew at
quarters and anchoring between Turkish IA
and 5O-gun ship, so close to each that neither
| could depress her guns to hull our low-lying
war dog. and able to do vital injury to only their
/ cOnsOrt we refusing for A hours the customary
salute TO their flag, and sending armed boats
/ crews ashore at night to guard our COnsuPs
| house in the other case soaring the inhabit-
ants out Of Larnaca with the sound Of our big
guns while Smelling a target placed a mile sea-
wards, bringing them to terms in both instances.
/ Ii took four long years of constant endeavOr
and millions of Treasury notes mot surplus) to
| enable US to say you musti" Other nations
| have seen US and bettered upon US while we
/ have been asleep, or worse-bragging of what
| we have DONE till now we are in about the
same fix as before, saying to the Canadians,
Please let our fishermen have theirrights and
the same privileges we accord to yours; we
don't want any trouble with YOU" And our
Quaker friends in Congress and out tell us we
must be peaceable watch in the very face
Of the fact that enormous OUTLAWS for defensive
| and offensive operations are being made not
| only on the Pacific Coast of the British Prov
inces, but at convenient places all along from
ocean to ocean. Westerners as well as Eastern
ers, Southerners as well as Northerners. in ease
of hostilities will be pecuniarly affected by the
defenseless condition Of our borders. The
Quakers and the whisky men may cry Sur.
plusI Surplus,," but there is nosurplus. There
is no more than the proper amount to place our
selves in q condition to say You musti" to al
corners; nor would there be any surplus fol
years to come at the present rate Of revenue
1t is urged by some that we strive to be peace
able Nation, attending to our own affairs anC
letting others alone; but how would it be i
France gets possession Of the Panama Cana
and strives to control not only that country
but the railroad2 How was il with the Euro
pean Powers in Mexico after it was found tina
the United States were to remain united
How anxious were the Austrian tradesmen Il
know the temper of even our common seameI
toward Maximilian's rule. Anxious only be
cause they felt we were able to compel eOmpli
ance. To such as claim that our traditions ar
for peace let us give the answer of the TexaI
who allowed he was peaceable man +" wheI
asked why he carried pistol and bowie Away
at hand, adding, Yer mOut not want 'em 70
years, but when yer did want 'em yer'd wan
'em mighty bad, reckon" If we would onl,
be "guided by the lamp of experience" W
would in time of peace prepare for war, o
rather for preventing the necessity OF war will
all its horrors.
Comrades, let US urge and insist upon Con
gross placing our navy upon effective foot
ing, our coasts in condition Of defense, an
our army so strong. not only in men, but il
effective arms and other war material, that
few regiments may be spared from fighting In
dians to form nucleus for our protection iron
foes within and without.
While pleading for our own rights, don't le
us forget the needs of the present generation
for insurance against the losses the calamitie
and the humiliations Of the first years of tn
rebellion.-J. A. STUART, Post 40, Department
of Massachusetts,; Seaman, U. S. Steamship
Metacomet and TicOnderoga. P. o. address.
Pawtucket Box, Lowell, Mass.